Austin Dennard '03 Named Ela Hockaday Distinguished Alumna

Established in 2011, the award recognizes those alumnae who – by virtue of their vocations, visions, and passions – have a transformative effect on their communities, professions, and families. Presented at the Fall Alumnae Cocktail Party, the award complements the Alumnae Association’s highest honor, the Hockaday Medal.

 

Dr. Dennard is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, fellowship-trained in minimally invasive and pelvic surgery, and a recognized women’s health advocate. She earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Oklahoma, her Master’s in Biomedical Sciences from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, and completed her medical degree, residency, and advanced surgical fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. 

 

A passionate advocate for women’s rights and health equity, Dr. Dennard has been invited to speak at the White House, Planned Parenthood, and the Feminist Majority, among other national platforms. She is consistently recognized as one of DFW’s Top Doctors and a “Mom-Approved” physician. Dr. Dennard’s commitment to reproductive rights is also deeply personal. She is a plaintiff in Zurawski v. Texas, a landmark lawsuit challenging the state’s abortion bans, and her story is featured in the documentary film of the same name. Through sharing her own lived experience with the restrictive nature of Texas’s abortion laws, she continues to amplify the urgent need for change and advocate for women’s autonomy in healthcare. 

 

Dr. Dennard maintains a thriving private practice in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, providing comprehensive gynecologic and obstetric care—from adolescence through postmenopause—with specialized expertise in midlife women’s health, hormone therapy, and advanced pelvic surgery. She combines surgical precision with a holistic approach, empowering women to take charge of their health at every stage of life.

 

“This award is a celebration of shared values; of education, advocacy, and the belief that women’s health is foundational to equality,” she said. “I’m proud that Hockaday continues to champion our voices and recognizes the importance of reproductive healthcare equality as part of that mission.”